1. Mickey Slimp, Executive Director, Northeast Texas Consortium of Colleges & Universities Rich Gross, Executive Vice President, the Clements Group Ronda Edwards, Executive Director, Michigan Community College Virtual Learning Collaborative

2.  A formalized procedure by which decisions are made and integrated into an organization  A systematic and ongoing activity that an organization uses to anticipate and respond to major issues facing it  An outside – in approach that answers the question “what do we do?”  Covers a 3 to 5 year period

3. Just what are you looking for? Outcomes?

4.  Focuses the mission and vision of an organization on student success and other real needs  Anticipates and responds to external needs and issues  Creates inclusion of the program’s participants (students, staff, and community) in the planning process  Positions for best use of resources  Positions for best use of people

5.  Your Position & Role  Executive Decision Maker  Support Area Decision Maker  Decision Supporter

6.  Planning Focus  Project/Goal Based  Departmental/Internal  Institutional  Mission Based/External

7.  Review of Prior Planning Activities and Reports

8.  Environmental Scanning  National Trends  State/Regional Trends  Institutional Trends  Environmental Pressure  Needs Assessment  Surveys/Interviews  Focus Groups

9.  Goal Setting  Planning Teams  External Planners  Administration

10.  Operational Plan  Benchmarks & Timelines  Meetings & Follow up

12.  Within the department  Across the campus  Executive Leadership  Faculty  Students  Support Areas

13.  Beyond the campus  Community Advisory Groups  K-12 Representative  State Distance Learning Leadership  External Distance Learning Planners/Consultants  Professional Associations

15.  Let’s discuss them

16.  Distance Learning is not included in the formal institutional mission.  My position is a decision supporter – has no authority  Other members of planning team have different understanding of distance learning  Organizational resistance to change  Limited technology and funding

17. It Depends!  Complexity (Department vs. Institution)  Groups Involved  Opportunities & Challenges  Ability to Bring Closure

18. Mickey Slimp, Executive Director, Northeast Texas Consortium of Colleges & Universities mickey.slimp@netnet.orgmickey.slimp@netnet.org 903-571-0892 Rich Gross, Executive Vice President, the Clements Group richg@gwtc.netrichg@gwtc.net 605-891-8715 Ronda Edwards, Executive Director, Michigan Community College Virtual Learning Collaborative redwards@mccvlc.orgredwards@mccvlc.org 517-372-4350